DIY Smoky Eye With Target and Napoleon Perdis!

Quick – off the top of your head, name an eye makeup look besides a smoky eye or cat eye. Did you come up with anything immediately? Kinda challenging, right?

The smoky eye has become THE look for both makeup newbies and makeup junkies. It can be intense and sexy when paired with a red lip, or smoldering and elegant with a nude lip. And don’t think a smoky eye look has to be exclusively done with dark eyeshadows – you can create a smoky look with brown and neutral shadows, purples or emerald greens or deep blues. It’s all about creating a color gradient that’s deeper and mysterious near the lashline, and moving towards lighter shades that pop near your browbone.

Recently, thanks to the Target Inner Circle, I went to the AMAZING Napoleon Perdis academy in Hollywood, California!

— Napoleon Perdis has many “Napoleonisms,” and #1 is this. It is a crime not to prime! This look began with NP Set eye primer.

— Use bronze/warm blush on lid in crease

— Use black pencil (which is creamy) as a base to make your color pop

— Flat brush is mostly for the lid. Fluffy brush is for the crease. It makes a softer line

— Dabbing eyeshadow on will apply product evenly and help you control the fallout. Don’t paint, like you’re using a paintbrush. Dab.

— Synthetic brush bristles are totally smooth when you look at them under a microsoft. Natural hair brush bristles are porous and well…bristly. Natural brushes are best for powder products because they pick up more of it. Whereas synthetic brushes are good for foundations, primers, serums etc.

— Napoleon has a different technique than most artists – he uses one coat of mascara at the root of the lash before applying eyeshadow and eyeliner. That makes the lashes pop and helps you to realize you probably don’t need as much eye shadow as you may have thought you did! And after shadow and liner, then he applies additional coats of mascara as needed.

— Use bronzer as your browbone highlight, it can make for a softer gradient.